VERBS FOLLOWED BY EITHER GERUND OR INFINITIVE

SAME MEANING:

1. BOTHER, CAN’T BEAR

2. BEGIN, START, CONTINUE

All of them may be used without any difference, but if the verb following them is a verb of
knowing or understanding it is usually put into the Infinitive (*):
I began working or I began to work
(*) I began to understand

3. HATE, LIKE, LOVE, PREFER BUT! ENJOY ALWAYS ING

When used in the conditional are followed by infinitive. When used in the present or past
they are followed by gerund.
I´d like to go swimming tomorrow
I like to go to the dentist's twice a year (NO LO DISFRUTAS)

DIFFERENT MEANING
1. remember, regret, forget
2. advise, forbid, allow, permit, recommend, encourage
3. try
4. stop
5. mean
6. be afraid
7. go on
8. verbs of sensation: listen, hear, notice, touch, see

1. REMEMBER, REGRET, FORGET

They are used with the gerund if this action occurs before them. First the action and then
we remember, regret, forget it.
I remember seeing the Queen when I was only nine
I regret shouting at you
I have forgotten meeting her before

They are used with the Infinitive if somebody performs the action of remembering
forgetting..., and then, the other action happens:

Remember to post the letter

We regret to inform you that you have failed
I forgot to buy the meat you needed

2. ADVISE, FORBID, ALLOW, PERMIT, RECOMMEND, ENCOURAGE

They are followed by the infinitive If the person concerned is mentioned

I didn't allow him to leave the room

They are followed by gerund if this person is not mentioned:

I don't allow smoking in class
3. TRY
Infinitive We do not succeed in the verb, it is the same as attempt. INTENTAR
I tried to go but my parents didn't let me

Gerund We do the verb, but it doesn´t help us in some other goal, it means experiment. PROBAR
I tried taking an aspirin, but it didn't work
4. STOP
If stop is the same as "pause in order to" it Is followed by the infinitive.
He stopped to have a rest
If it means "not to continue" it is followed by the gerund.
Stop talking

5. MEAN
Mean meaning "intend", takes the infinitive. TENER LA INTENCIÓN/ QUERER
I meant to bring you a present but I forgot to buy it.
Mean meaning "involve" takes the gerund. CONLLEVA
Having a cold means going without cigarettes

6. BE AFRAID
Be afraid of + gerund expresses a fear. It is normally used with involuntary actions. LO
QUE TE DA MIEDO
Be afraid to + infinitive means that the subject is too frightened to perform the action of the
infinitive. NO ERES LO SUFICIENTEMENTE VALIENTE

I´m afraid to walk near the swimming -pool because I'm afraid of falling into water
I´m afraid to walk travel by bus because I'm afraid of having an accident

7. GO ON
Followed by the gerund means continue.
How long do you intend to go on talking?

Followed by the infinitive means a change in the action:

He welcomed the new students and then went on to explain the school
regulations

8. LISTEN, HEAR, NOTICE, TOUCH, SEE

Followed by the infinitive if we refer to the whole action.
I saw them play football (the whole match)

Followed by the gerund if we refer to part of the action.

I saw them playing football (part of it)